Multichannel element and method for making same

Abstract

The invention concerns a multichannel element, comprising at least a first ring of channels intermingled with a second ring of channels. The invention also concerns a method for making such an element, and a module comprising same. The invention is applicable to tangential filtering.

1 . A multichannel element, comprising at least a first ring of channels ( 202 ;  302 ;  303 ;  504 ) which is intermingled with a second ring of channels ( 203 ;  303 ;  304 ;  502 ).  
     
     
         2 . The multichannel element as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that each of the partitions provided between the channels of said first and second rings is nonperpendicular to the straight line passing through the center of said first and second rings and the middle of the partition in question.  
     
     
         3 . The multichannel element as claimed in either of claims  1  and  2 , characterized in that each of the partitions provided between the channels of said first and second rings and the straight line passing through the center of said first and second rings and the middle of the partition in question makes an angle of between 0 and 60 degrees, preferably between 0 and 45 degrees.  
     
     
         4 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the degree of crossover between said first ring and said second ring is at least equal to 0.4.  
     
     
         5 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  4 , characterized in that said first and second rings ( 202 ,  203 ;  302 ,  303 ;  303 ,  304 ) are circular.  
     
     
         6 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  4 , characterized in that said first and second rings ( 504 ;  502 ) are hexagonal.  
     
     
         7 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  6 , characterized in that the channels of said first and second rings each have a shape chosen from the following general shapes: 
 diamond;  
 flattened diamond;  
 triangle, preferably a substantially isosceles or right-angled triangle;  
 trapezium, preferably a substantially right-angled trapezium;  
 half an orange segment.  
 
     
     
         8 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  7 , characterized in that the number of channels of said second ring is equal to the number of channels of said first ring.  
     
     
         9 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  7 , characterized in that the number of channels of said second ring ( 304 ;  502 ) is twice the number of channels of said first ring ( 303 ;  504 ).  
     
     
         10 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  9 , characterized in that the channels of said first ring all have the same shape.  
     
     
         11 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  10 , characterized in that the channels of said second ring have a shape different from the channels of said first ring.  
     
     
         12 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  11 , characterized in that the channels of said second ring all have the same shape.  
     
     
         13 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  12 , characterized in that said second ring ( 203 ;  304 ;  502 ) consists of a plurality of pairs of adjacent channels ( 105 - 1   a ,  105 - 1   b ;  304 - 1   a ,  304 - 1   b ;  503 - 1   a ,  503 - 1   b ), each of said pairs of adjacent channels comprising a first channel and a second channel symmetrical with the first channel with respect to a straight line passing through the center of said rings.  
     
     
         14 . The multichannel element as claimed in  claim 13 , characterized in that each of said pairs of channels is arranged between two successive channels of said first ring.  
     
     
         15 . The multichannel element as claimed in either of claims  13  and  14 , characterized in that the number of rings of channels is two and in that the channels of said first ring ( 202 ) have the general shape of a flattened diamond and the channels of said second ring ( 203 ) have the general shape of half an orange segment.  
     
     
         16 . The multichannel element as claimed in either of claims  13  and  14 , characterized in that a third ring ( 302 ) of channels is intermingled with said first ring ( 303 ), said third ring having the same number of channels as said first ring, and in that the general shape of the channels of said first and third rings is a diamond or flattened diamond and the general shape of the channels of said second ring is a triangle, preferably a substantially right-angled or isosceles triangle, or a trapezium, preferably a substantially right-angled trapezium.  
     
     
         17 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  16 , characterized in that the shape of the channels of said rings is provided with joining fillets.  
     
     
         18 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  17 , characterized in that the channels or said pairs of adjacent channels of said first and second rings are arranged at regular intervals along their respective ring.  
     
     
         19 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  18 , furthermore including a central channel ( 401 ) which is preferably circular or a regular polygon.  
     
     
         20 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  19 , characterized in that the partitions provided between the channels of said rings have substantially the same thickness.  
     
     
         21 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  19 , characterized in that the partitions provided between the channels of said rings progressively widen out when starting from their end directed toward the interior of said multichannel element and going toward their end directed toward the external of said multichannel element.  
     
     
         22 . The multichannel element, comprising a ring of channels ( 107 ) which is intermingled with a central channel ( 104 ).  
     
     
         23 . The multichannel element as claimed in  claim 22 , characterized in that the ring of channels comprises 3 or 4 channels.  
     
     
         24 . The multichannel element as claimed in either of claims  22  and  23 , characterized in that the central channel has the general shape of a triangle.  
     
     
         25 . The multichannel element as claimed in  claim 24 , characterized in that said ring consists of three channels in the shape of an orange segment.  
     
     
         26 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 22  to  25 , characterized in that the external outline of said element is circular.  
     
     
         27 . The multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  26 , characterized in that the channel ( 104 ) and/or the rings ( 202 ,  302 ,  303 ,  504 ;  203 ,  303 ,  304 ,  502 ;  107 ) are intermingled at least in pairs.  
     
     
         28 . A method of manufacturing a multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  27 , in which said multichannel element is obtained by extrusion.  
     
     
         29 . A filtration membrane comprising a multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  27 , in combination with at least one filtering layer.  
     
     
         30 . A reaction and/or filtration module comprising at least one multichannel element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  27  or at least one membrane as claimed in  claim 29.